LAS VEGAS, March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors for
Southwest Gas Corporation (NYSE: SWX) has declared the following second
quarter cash dividend:

Common Stock
Payable June 2, 2003
Of Record May 15, 2003
Dividend $.205 per share

The dividend equates to 82 cents per share on an annualized basis. The
Company has paid quarterly dividends continuously since going public in 1956.

About Southwest Gas

Southwest Gas Corporation purchases, transports and distributes natural
gas to approximately 1.4 million residential, commercial, industrial and other
customers in geographically diverse portions of Arizona, Nevada and
California. Its service territories are centered in the fastest-growing region
of the country. For more information about Southwest Gas, please visit
www.swgas.com

This press release may contain statements which constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (Reform Act). All such forward-looking statements are
intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by the Reform
Act. A number of important factors affecting the business and financial
results of the Company could cause actual results to differ materially from
those stated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but
are not limited to, the impact of weather variations on customer usage,
natural gas prices, the effects of regulation/deregulation, the timing and
amount of rate relief, changes in capital requirements and funding,
acquisitions, and competition.